Self-rolling umbrella and process of producing the same



g- 1, .1939 A. WRIGHT 2,167,860

SELF-ROLLING UMBRELLA AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING. THE SAME Filed No v. 26, 1938. t 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Aug. 1, 1939. Rl T 2,167,860

SELF-ROLLING UMBRELLA AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING THE SAME Filed Nov. 26, 1938 Sheets-Sheet 2 AM Q4 WWII,

5 3 INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-ROLLING UMBRELLA AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING THE SAME Arthur Wright, Forest Hills, Long Island, N. Y.

Application November 26, 1938, Serial No. 242,484

18 Claims. (Cl. 135-22) My invention relates to an umbrella and process of producing the same, which will automatically roll up to take out the folds of the umbrella when lowered.

ends of the links 6 are pivoted in the usual way to a sliding-sleeve 9 on the stick 2 provided with a slot 9 to engage with the usual spring catches It and H carried by the stick 2. In each of the The object of my invention is to provide an umribs 4 there is a tempered steel spring wire l2, 5 brella which, in lowering, will roll itself up so as the inner end of which is secured in any desired to be without the flapping folds which are ordin- Way to the rib 4 but, for example, by bent-in arily present in an umbrella when lowered. portions l3 which may be soldered or welded to While my invention is capable of embodiment the spring wire l2. The other end of the spring in many different forms, I have shown only cerwire l2 extends out through the outer end of the 10 tain embodiments thereof in the accompanying rib 4, the extreme end of the latter being formed drawings, in whichinto a closed cylindrical extension l4 through the Fig. 1 is a vertical elevation of an umbrella center of which the end of the wire It extends made in accordance with my invention, when and has a turned-in end IE to pass into an openl5 lowered, that is to say in the position in which ing H5 in the side of a rotatable tip I! pivoted it has rolled itself up; upon the cylindrical end 14 of the rib 4. The tip Fig. 2 is a plan View of one of the ribs, show- I! has the usual transverse opening 18 to receive ing a spring wire therein for rolling up a fabric the sewing IQ for attachment thereto of the around each particular rib; fabric of the umbrella. Before sewing the 20 Fig. 3 is a similar View of a rib constructed the fabric 20 to the tip H, the tip I! and attached 20 same way but with the inner end of the spring spring wire [2 are given enough turns in one wire located between the umbrella stick and the direction so as to roll up the fabric 20 fully and elevating link attached to the rib to provide added completely between the adjacent ribs when the length for the wire, if necessary; umbrella is in the lowered position, as shown in Fig. 4 shows an alternative way of fastening Fig. 1, and the fabric 2|] is thus sewed to the tip 25 the inner end of the wire to the rib, in plan View; ll, when said tip has preliminarily been given the Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the same; number of turns, which may be any desired num- Flg. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of the her for this purpose but preferably one to six or invention, showing a coil spring on the outside more turns. Thus, when the fabric 20 has been of the rib; sewed to each of the tips H in this way, upon 30 Fig. 7 is a similar View of a rib showing the lowering the umbrella all of the folds in the coil spring located within the rib; fabric 20 will be entirely rolled up into smooth Fig. 8 is a similar view of a modified form of position. f it is desired to v the p ll a v y the construction, showing a part of the rib in the large number of turns, the inner end of the wire 5 form of a rod with a coil spring around the same; I2 can be extended within the rib 4 beneath the Fig. 9 is still another form of construction in p votal e d of t e nk 6 and Secured y a rightwhich the end of the rib is comprised merely of a ang1e tu n 2| in the W 12 w n the edges of coil spring; and the rib, which are formed around said turn 2i, Fig. 10 is a plan View of a modified construction as shown at 22. An alternative way of attaching comprising a rib having a rotatable tip thereon the inner end of the wire [2 is shown in Figs. 4 40 adapted to be used with a fabric cover which has and 5, in which the right-angle turn 2| of the been given a set in its wound-up position on the wire i2 is received in a ring 23 and which may be rib so as to automatically wind up the folds of tight or loose on the rib i, as desired. Another the fabric on the rib by the set given to the form of construction is shown in Fig. 6, in which fabric when the umbrella is lowered. the rib 4 has located around the same a coil spring 45 In the drawings, referring first to Figs, 1 and 2, 24 having an inner turned-in end 25 which, after I have shown an umbrella I having the usual stick the spring is given the, desired number of wind-up 2 and handle 3 as well as the usual ribs 4 which turns, is bent to project into the channel of the are pivoted on a recessed pivot-piece 5 secured to rib 4 and prevent the rotation of the spring at the stick 2, as well as the usual links 6, U-shaped this end. This inner end of the coil spring 24 50 in cross-section, which are pivoted to the ribs l by means of pins l, the open faces of the ribs and links preferably facing each other in closed position and the width of each link being approximately the inside width of the rib. The other The outer end of the coil spring 24 has a turned-in end 21 fitting over one of the four tapered squared sides of the tip [1, otherwise said tip being constructed like the tip shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is another modification of the same, showing a rib 28 having located within the same a coil spring 29, the rear end of which has a free end 30 passing through a hole 3| in the rib and the outward end of said spring 29 has a free end 32 which passes through a hole 33 in a tubular tip 34 having holes 35 to receive the sewing for attachment to the fabric 20. Fig. 8 is a further modified form of the same, in which the usual rib 4 has a closed cylindrical end 36 soldered or welded to a rod 3! surrounded by a coil spring 38. The rear end of which is soldered or welded at 39 to the rod 31 and the free end of which has a flattened portion 40 with a hole 4| for sewing the same to the fabric 20. Still another modification is shown in Fig. 9, in which the rib 4 is constructed as in Fig. 8, but in this instance there is a coil spring 42' provided with a rear end 43 soldered or welded to the end of the rib 4 while the other end of the spring 42 has a flattened portion 44 provided with a hole 45 therein for sewing to the fabric 20 therein.

In each of these constructions the fabric is sewed to the part to which it is attached after said part has been preliminarily given the number of turns, preferably in unwinding direction in the case of the coil springs, sufiicient so that when the rotatable spring member returns to its normal position in the lowering of the umbrella it will take up all of the slack between the adjacent ribs so that tight rolls will form around each of the ribs in the lowered position of the umbrella.

Also, in carrying out my invention, if desired, and with or without any of the spring rotating means above described, I may bring about the winding up of the fabric on the rib, wholly or partly, by giving a set to the fabric in the woundup position of the latter around each of the ribs. For instance, for this purpose I have shown in Fig. 10 a rotatable tip 46 carried over the end of the ordinary tip 28, as shown in Fig. 7. The tip 46 may, if desired, have its inner end 4'! spun inwardly within a recess 48 on the rib, and will have any number of holes 49 opposite to another recess 50 in the rib for sewing the tip to the fabric 20. In this instance an ordinary umbrella fabric, such as cotton or silk, etc., can be used with or without any material deposited on the fibers thereof. If desired, however, the fibers may be given a treatment to increase the set to be given to them, as hereinafter referred to. The treatment, if given to the fabric, may be made by first sponging over both sides thereof a solution of one part of aluminum sulphate and ten parts of water. Thereafter there may be sponged on both sides of the fabric a solution of two parts of rosin soap and one part of sodium soap dissolved in thirty parts of water. This produces an insoluble soap on the fibers which gives more body to the latter besides making them waterproof. In order to give the fabric 26 the desired set the fabric, without any treatment, can be rolled up on the ribs by rotating the tips 46 as far as possible while the umbrella is in the lowered position, or, if desired, the treated fabric, while wet or after being wholly or partly dried, may be rolled up in the same way by rotating the tips 46 until the fabric is thus entirely rolled up on the ribs to obtain a set of the fabric in the wound-up position. The umbrella in this rolled up position may be then subjected to heat or steam or pressure or any combination of these, to more or less soften the materials present, and allowed to cool and dry in this position. When the fabric has entirely dried and cooled the latter will be found to have acquired the set in the rolled-up position. However, if desired, the fabric can be given a similar set before being built into the umbrella. Accordingly, upon the lowering of the umbrella the fabric will wind up upon the ribs in an effort to attain its wound-up position on the ribs of the umbrella.

It will be understood that any of the above rod or spring tension means can be applied to any one or more of the ribs of an umbrella, but preferably, for example, it may be applied to every alternate rib or to all the ribs of the umbrella, to wind up all the fabric adjacent to the particular rib or ribs. Similarly, the fabric may be given a set such as to wind up all the fabric on all the ribs or all the fabric on the alternate ribs of the umbrella.

In the operation of the self-rolling umbrella, when the umbrella is elevated by pushing the sliding sleeve 8 upwardly after releasing the catch H, the movement of the umbrella upwardly will gradually unwind the various spring members or unwind the fabric until the folds of the umbrella are completely extended, all of which occurs while the ribs of the umbrella are in substantially straight position and the further raising of the sliding sleeve 8 up to engagement with the spring catch it] will merely give the usual bowing effect to the ribs 4 and the fabric 20 carried thereby. Upon the lowering of the umbrella, thus, by releasing the sliding sleeve 8 from the spring catch 10, in the downward movement of the sleeve 8, the fabric 20 of the umbrella will immediately wind up upon the respective ribs 4, either due to the springs present or the set of the fabric or both, until it is in lowered position. When the sliding sleeve 8 is engaged by the spring catch l I the fabric will be entirely rolled up upon the ribs, leaving on the outside of the latter merely smooth cylindrical layers of the fabric 2 substantially parallel to the length of the latter and the adjacent ribs touching each other.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the same.

I claim:

1. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs, a cover supported thereby and wound about the ribs, means to elevate and lower said ribs, and a plurality of rotatable members attached to the cover and to the ribs through resilient means, adapted to be rotated on the axes of the ribs, putting said resilient means under tension by the raising of the umbrella and through said resilient means wind up the fabric on the axes of the ribs when the umbrella is being lowered.

2. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs, means to elevate and lower the ribs, a fabric cover supported thereby, a plurality of said ribs having members rotatably associated therewith and attached to the cover, and torsion means connected between said members and the ribs and said cover being wound about the axes of said ribs, whereby the raising of the umbrella ribs will rotate said members and produce tension in said torsion means which will tend to wind up said fabric on the axes of said ribs while the umbrella is being lowered.

3. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs,

means to elevate and lower the ribs, a fabric cover supported thereby, a plurality of said ribs having members rotatably associated therewith and attached to the cover, and coil springs connected between said members and the ribs and said cover being wound about the axes of said ribs, whereby the raising of the umbrella ribs will rotate said members and produce tension in said coil springs which will tend to wind up said fabric on the axes of said ribs while the umbrella is being lowered.

4. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs, means to elevate and lower the ribs, a fabric cover supported thereby, a plurality of said ribs having members rotatably associated therewith and attached to the cover, and torsion wires connected between said members and the ribs and said cover being wound about the axes of said ribs, whereby the raising of the umbrella ribs will rotate said members and produce tension in said torsion wires which will tend to wind up said fabric on the axes of said ribs while the umbrella is being lowered.

5. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs U- shaped in cross-section, means to elevate and lower the ribs, a fabric cover supported thereby, a plurality of said ribs having members rotatably associated therewith and attached to the cover, and torsion wires within the ribs connected between said members and the ribs and said cover being wound about the axes of said ribs, whereby the raising of the umbrella ribs will rotate said members and produce tension in said torsion wires which will tend to Wind up said fabric on the axes of said ribs while the umbrella is being lowered.

6. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs, a cover supported thereby and wound about the ribs, means to elevate and lower said ribs, and a plurality of rotatable tips attached to the cover and to the ribs through resilient means, adapted to be rotated on the axes of the ribs putting said resilient means under tension by the raising of the umbrella and through said resilient means wind up the fabric on the axes of the ribs when the umbrella is being lowered.

'7. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs, means to elevate and lower the ribs, a fabric cover supported thereby, a plurality of said ribs having tips rotatably associated with the ends thereof and attached to the cover. and torsion means connected between said tips and the ribs and said cover being wound about said ribs, whereby the raising of the umbrella ribs will rotate said tips and produce tension in said torsion means which will tend to wind up said fabric on said ribs while the umbrella is being lowered.

8. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs, means to elevate and lower the ribs, a fabric cover supported thereby, a plurality of said ribs having rotatably associated with the ends thereof and attached to the cover, and coil springs connected between said tips and the ribs and said cover being wound about said ribs, whereby the raising of the umbrella ribs will rotate said tips and produce tension in said coil springs which will tend to wind up said fabric on said ribs while the umbrella is being lowered.

9.. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs, means to elevate and lower the ribs, a fabric cover supported thereby, a plurality of said ribs having tips rotatably associated with the ends thereof and attached to the cover, and torsion wires connected between said tips and the ribs and said cover being wound about said ribs, whereby the raising of the umbrella ribs will rotate said tips and produce tension in said torsion wires which will tend to wind up said fabric on said ribs while the umbrella is being lowered.

10. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs U- shaped in cross-section, means to elevate and lower the ribs, a fabric cover sup-ported thereby, a plurality of said ribs having tips rotatably associated with the ends thereof and attached to the cover, and torsion wires within the ribs connected between said tips and the ribs, said cover being wound about said ribs, whereby the raising of the umbrella ribs will rotate said tips and produce tension in said torsion wires which will tend to wind up said fabric on said ribs while the umbrella is being lowered.

11. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs, a fabric cover comprised of coated fibers having a set tending to roll up the fabric around the re spective ribs on the axes thereof, and means to elevate and lower said ribs, said ribs having a rotatable member attached to the cover and adapted to be rotated by the raising of the umbrella and permit, by its rotation on the rib, the cover to wind up on the axis of the rib.

12. The process which comprises mounting the fabric of an umbrella in rotatable relation with respect to ribs thereof, winding up the fabric on the ribs, respectively, and subjecting the umbrella to pressure to produce a set in the fabric of the umbrella.

13. The process which comprises mounting the fabric of an umbrella in rotatable relation with respect to ribs thereof, winding up the fabric on the ribs, respectively, and subjecting the umbrella to heat to produce a set in the fabric of the umbrella.

14. The process which comprises providing a fabric containing coated fibers in rotatable relation with respect to the ribs of an umbrella, winding up the fabric on the ribs, respectively, and subjecting the umbrella to pressure to produce a set in the fabric of the umprella.

15. The process which comprises providing a fabric containing coated fibers, in rotatable relation with respect to the ribs of an umbrella, winding up the fabric on the ribs, respectively, and subjecting the umbrella to heat to produce a set in the fabric of the umbrella.

16. An umbrella, having a cover and means to elevate and lower the same comprising rib-devices adapted to wind up the cover on the rib axes when the umbrella is being lowered.

17. An umbrella, having a cover and means to elevate, lower and roll up the same, comprising devices adapted to roll up the cover on axes located longitudinally of the umbrella.

18. An umbrella having a plurality of ribs, a fabric cover comprised of spirally set fibres having a set tending to roll up the fabric around the respective ribs on the axes thereof, and means to elevate and lower said ribs, said ribs having a rotatable member attached to the cover and adapted to be rotated by the raising of the umbrella and permit, by its rotation on the rib, the cover to wind up on the axis of the rib.

ARTHUR WRIGHT. 

